Category: Observatory
Gear / Mount / Observatory / Technology
Lessons learned
Well, I had 2 clear nights over the weekend, and came up empty for a new photo — I got lots of data last night, but the object is big and dim, […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory / Technology
Bursts of insight
The rig is flying tonight. First target went behind the house, chasing the second across at a speedy clip — I have been learning how often, and how much, to adjust the […]
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography / Observatory / Solar System Photography
Hilltop Observatory – First Light
We did it! It’s been a long hard journey, with lessons learned, and ducks carefully put into rows. Four years of design and development all came together tonight. The sky was even clearer tonight […]
Observatory Status report
I got a bunch done in the observatory this weekend — I wired up enough outlets that I now have “wall power” all the way to the pier, including the desk area […]
Another week, still progressing
The march towards First Light is moving slowly, but steadily. I find myself torn between wanting to get things buttoned up out there, and knowing that it will be there for awhile, […]
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
And, finally, The Time, has indeed, Come Today. Some anthology later. Today, Observatory 2.0 has changed its call sign. Observatory 2.0 is now The ad Astra Observatory at Hilltop, Woodinville, WA, known […]
ATM / Electronics / Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Bits and bobs
The Observatory is getting awfully close to First Light. At this point, I think the construction “to do” list (Jared doesn’t like calling it a “punch list” until he feels it’s complete) […]
Observatory 2.0 – You get what you need
As an astronomer, I never thought I’d be so grateful to see a rainstorm. We got the dome up on Thursday, and Friday was super rainy. This gave me a chance to […]
Observatory 2.0 – Dome installation
Well, the day has finally arrived. After 4 years of planning, and a year of big chunks of fiberglass sitting in the shop, and weeks (and weeks) of concrete and wood, today […]
Observatory 2.0 – Roof math
I have spent a long time with this observatory stuck inside my head. It is very interesting to watch as it unfolds “in real life”. A lot of the design is fairly […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]
MOST COMMENTED
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.